Working in Finland

Allan has worked in Finland since Jaakko Pöyry brought him there almost three decades ago. Since then he has worked with many Finnish clients including: Nokia, Paloheimo, Talentum, and UPM.

At the end of the Gulf War Allan was asked to assist a committee formed by the Emir of Kuwait to help build Kuwait into the next century. Since then Allan has traveled several times each year to Kuwait and several groups of Kuwaitis have traveled to the US.

The results include over 50 changes in Kuwaiti law, Kuwaiti women for example are among the most progressive in the world, they vote, they drive, they wear the clothes they choose, they are in top positions, for example the head of the oil company and the university are both women and the Iraqi oil fires were put out by a team also headed up by a woman.

In 2005 Allan was asked to help design a package to deprogram terrorists so that they would return to normal society and no longer seek change through killing.

For several years Allan worked for many European companies while living with his family outside Brussels in Wezembeek-Oppem. Here he is HP offices where he helped them develop a collaborative strategy.

From Brussels you can drive in the morning and work all day in Paris or Amsterdam and return home that same evening.

Working in Italy is like working in many countries. The companies and culture in Triest near what was Yugoslavia are Eastern, while those in Milan are more Western.

The CEO of Olivetti told me that a perfect life would be to be able to work during the day in the US and to live the rest of the day in Italy. The lifestyle is about the best in the world.

Prior to the war with England Allan asked who they might go to war with and was told, no one, that wars happen in the Northern hemisphere. When Argentina went to war most of their money was in British banks. Allan asks, "Should there not be a rule that says do not go to war with someone who has all your money?"

Companies and individuals often keep their assets in too few baskets.

Allan has worked with companies around the huge country of Brazil. He was invited to spend several weeks in São Paulo writing a book translated into Portuguese for Brazilian managers on planning and budgeting.

Allan did a number of projects for the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority spanning the planning and budgeting functions.

Allan is working here with Nokia at their Texas complex helping them develop a collaboration process across all their partners.